EDUCATION FACULTY

Michael Kevin Baldwin (Education & Community Director) first stepped onto the stage of the Sharon Playhouse at the age of ten and is now in his sixth season as a valued member of the Playhouse Leadership Team. Since joining the staff in 2020, Michael has transformed the Playhouse’s Education Department, creating new opportunities for students of all ages and fostering deep community engagement. Under his leadership, the Sharon Playhouse was honored with the 2024 Breakshire Theater Critics Larry Murray Award for Community Outreach and Support through Theater. Among his initiatives, Michael has grown the Summer YouthStage Program, created and implemented the annual Holiday YouthStage Production, and launched the LaunchPad Company, the Playhouse’s pre-professional summer program that provides paid performance opportunities for local 15–20-year-olds. He has also expanded on-site classes into a three-season format, developed summer apprenticeship programs for high school and college students as well as early-career professionals, and established innovative residency programs and partnerships with local schools and organizations, including Indian Mountain School, Sharon Center School, Salisbury Central School, Housatonic Valley Regional High School, Kent Center School, Goshen Center School, Dutchess Day School, and Project SAGE. As a director, Michael’s credits at the Playhouse include Oliver!, As You Like It (site-specific at The Equus Effect), Pride and Prejudice, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Elf Jr., Frozen Jr., The Little Mermaid Jr., Mary Poppins Jr., Aladdin Kids, and a staged reading of David Adjmi’s Marie Antoinette starring Lauren Ambrose. His acting work at the Playhouse includes standout performances as FDR in Annie, Mr. Darling in Peter Pan, Tony Whitcomb in Shear Madness (Berkie nomination, Broadway World CT Award), Simon Stimson in Our Town, Cogsworth in Beauty and the Beast, Mordred in Camelot, and Bobby in A Chorus Line. Michael’s playwriting portfolio features numerous original works for youth, including the world premieres of Sassy Cinderella, The Great Amusement Park Mystery, and Young at Heart. An accomplished educator, Michael spent seven years teaching drama at The Brearley School and one year at Hunter College High School in Manhattan. He co-created and directed the ethnodrama #BraveSpace, which premiered at New York University’s Forum on Ethnodrama, and has delivered masterclasses and keynote addresses nationwide, including for the Educational Theatre Association’s “Theater in Our Schools” initiative. Michael holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Theater and Sociology from Skidmore College and a Master’s Degree in Education from The City College of New York. He lives in Lakeville, CT with his husband, Will, and their dog, Daphne.

Sarah is the Company and Education Manager for he Sharon Playhouse. She has been a dance teacher and choreographer since her teenage years, with a focus on Ballet, Jazz, and Musical Theater. Growing up the “Ballet teacher's daughter”, Sarah has spent her life observing and learning this art. Sarah has previously had the pleasure of teaching at The Ballet School (Lakeville, CT), The Studio (Amenia, NY), and a sub for Lara Luzim at PMT (New York, NY). While living in New York City, she continued her training at Broadway Dance Center, Steps, and PMT. Musical Theater has also been a long time passion for Sarah. Outside of The Sharon Playhouse, Sarah has been a guest artist at schools such as Indian Mountain, Hotchkiss, the Brearley School, and Falls Village Children’s Theater. Before joining the staff at the Sharon Playhouse, Sarah was the dance teacher for Millbrook School. Sarah holds a teacher certificate from The National Dance Institute founded by Jacques D’Amboise, as well as a 200hr Certified Yoga Instructor.

Ricky is thrilled to be joining the Sharon Playhouse Education Team. Ricky holds an MFA from the Brown University/Trinity Rep Acting Program and a BFA in Music Theatre from the University of Hartford’s Hartt School Theatre Division. He currently serves as Director of Theater at the Trinity-Pawling School in Pawling, NY. Ricky has the great privilege of teaching Acting techniques all over the world and has served as Chair and Coordinator of Actor Training at his alma mater, Hartt School, prior to moving to Trinity-Pawling last year. As a performer, Ricky has performed around the country in two national tours, several regional premieres, and in Off-Broadway houses. Some favorite roles include John Adams in 1776, Younger Brother in RAGTIME, Silvias in AS YOU LIKE IT, and Harry in TIME OF YOUR LIFE.

Alec Sisco is the Choral Music Director for grades 6–12 at Pine Plains Central School District, where he has music directed The Addams Family, Mamma Mia!, Matilda, and Something Rotten!. He has been part of Sharon Playhouse for the past four years, contributing both in the pit and as a music director. His Playhouse credits include playing in Guys and Dolls, Something Rotten, Rock of Ages, The Prom!, and Once Upon a Mattress. He has also music directed Kids Cabaret and Finding Nemo Jr. at the Playhouse. Onstage, Alec appeared as “Fluke” in Million Dollar Quartet. He is always excited to collaborate with anyone and everyone he can at The Sharon Playhouse!

Julie is an independent writer, playwright, and teacher whose work has earned her support from EST New York, Primary Stages, New York Theatre Workshops, as well as the Will Geer Theatricum “Seedlings Play Development Program”. Julie has been working with playwrights and new play development coast to coast for the past twenty years creating dynamic writing workshops incorporating breathwork, sound and movement. She is a community leader, as well as an advocate for the environment and humanity. Working collaboratively with writers is one of her greatest joys. “The theatre is very much alive and one of the best ways to continue to explore and create on stage our deepest thoughts and ideas”. She believes in the power of storytelling. A safe exploration for writers in a community setting is at the core of what Julie brings to her classes.

Sienna Brann is a lifelong performer and educator dedicated to fostering creativity, confidence, and joy in young learners. With over two decades of experience in the arts and education, Sienna brings a unique blend of professional theatrical expertise and a deep understanding of developmental milestones to every class. As an early childhood educator, Sienna served as a teacher for transitional kindergarten and infants, focusing on key competencies like communication and collaboration. As an arts educator, she created drama curricula and plays for Pre-K through 12th grade students. As a performer, Sienna has performed in over 20 productions all over the country, and originated the roles in award-winning musical adaptations of children’s literature, such as Flight of the Dodo and The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!. Her latest roles of Phyllis, Tom, and Leslie, in Sylvia, were right here at The Sharon Playhouse last Fall. Sienna received a B.F.A. in Acting from Cornish College of the Arts, and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Private School Leadership at Teachers College, Columbia University, expanding her pedagogical practices in equity, inclusion, and belonging to system-wide frameworks that support learners, teachers, and communities.

Michael Siktberg (He/Him) is a director, actor, and musician living in Berkshire County, MA. As a director, Sean Matthew Whitford’s Girlfriend from Hell. Chicago and Mama Mia for Lenox Highschool, and Dinosaurs before dark for FVCT. As an arts educator, Michael has taught for the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s summer DARTS program at Tanglewood, The Flying Cloud Institute, The New York Kids Club, Falls Village Children’s Theatre, The Sharon Playhouse, Berkshire Pulse and the Soundry Music Studio. As an actor he has walked and talked on many stages (Sharon Playhouse, Shakespeare and Co.,Stages St. Louis, Bucks County Playhouse, The Ogunquit Theatre, Theatre by the Sea, Cumberland County Playhouse, Yorktown Stage, as well as touring companies with Chamber Theater Productions and American Family Theatre) and is a member of Actors Equity. Originally from the Hudson Valley NY, Michael received his training at the American Music and Dramatic Academy, The Simon Studio, and has coached with directors Roger Simon and Richard Sabellico. Michael lives in Sheffield with his wife Ruby and their three cats.

Tamra Stephenson has been a professional musician since the ripe age of 11. Beginning her early career as a concert pianist and pit musician, by early adulthood she had found a passion for musical theatre and music education. Since then, she has worked on stage as a performer, behind the scenes as a musical director, and in the classroom as a passionate educator. She has worked with the Trustus Theatre Company in Columbia , SC,.Ocean State Theatre Company in Rhode Island, and spent over a decade teaching at the French American School in New York. Since relocating to the Northwest corner in 2021, Tamra has been proudly increasing music literacy and vocal production for the Lower School students at the Indian Mountain School in Lakeville, CT.

Kristine Waterman is a dynamic performing arts educator with over 25 years of experience teaching, choreographing, and performing across diverse educational and professional settings. Kristine has engaged and inspired hundreds of students of all ages and abilities-from preschool through adult- from NYC to the Berkshires. Her work has included grant-funded arts residencies, musical theater choreography, after-school enrichment programming, and directing a dance troupe for young adults with disabilities. As a preschool educator, she developed and implemented creative arts curricula in both NYC and the Berkshires, fostering creative exploration, confidence, and early literacy skills in young learners. Kristine served as Head of the Dance Department and Artistic Director at Berkshire School, where she led program development and performance initiatives. She also piloted a new dance program at Miss Hall's School, designing innovative classes that integrated technical training with creative expression. Krisitne holds a B.A. in Theater and Dance from the City University of New York and is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, NYC. Kristine has developed a reputation as a dedicated teacher whose leadership, artistry, and commitment to the creative process influence every program she leads, every classroom she teaches in, and every stage she steps onto. She is passionate about guiding collaborative, creative work and is excited to join the Sharon Playhouse as a teaching artist.

Andrus Nichols is an award winning actress, arts leader, and community builder. She has been recognized by numerous organizations in multiple cities across the country for her work on stage, including: Helen Hayes, Drama League, Lucille Lortel, The OBIES, The IRNES, Eliot Norton, Off-Broadway Alliance, Broadway World, and The Jeff Awards. She was the Co-Founder of the OBIE Award-winning Off Broadway company, Bedlam, where she originated many roles including the title role in George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan, which she performed over 500 times in theatres up and down the East coast. She worked with Ivo Van Hove on the National Tour of the Young Vic production of A View From The Bridge which played at the Ahmanson Theatre in LA, The Kennedy Center in DC, and the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Her most recent film project, South Mountain, was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the 2019 SXSW Film Festival. Andrus has a BA in Comparative Literature from Bard College, and a Masters of Social Welfare from SUNY Albany. She is the Artistic Director of The Coop: www.thecoopnyc.org

Drew Ledbetter: Off-Broadway: Williston (Miranda Theater Company- opposite Robert LuPone), A Persistent Memory (Theater Row), Richard 2x1 (Red Bull Theater). Regional: Hamlet (Pittsburgh Public Theater- played Hamlet), Fly (Alabama Shakespeare Festival), King Lear (Trinity Rep), Melena (Brown/Trinity Playwright’s Rep), She-Wolf (Amphibian Stage Company, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company). Numerous workshops with New York Theater Workshop, New Georges, New Dramatists, Chautauqua Theater Company, The Drama League, Red Bull Theater, and more. Film: Love and Everything In Between; WordPlay Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (The New Book Press). TV: The Blacklist (NBC), Succession (HBO- recurring role- SAG award for best ensemble in season 3). MFA: Brown University/Trinity Rep. BA: UC Berkeley. www.drewledbetteronline.com

Emma Simon (she/her) is an actor and educator originally from the Hudson Valley, NY. She has performed throughout the US and internationally in opera, musicals, and dramatic works. Specializing in physically funny storytelling, she has trained extensively in clowning under Chris Bayes, Lucas Caleb Rooney, and David Shiner. As an educator, she has been a teaching artist at numerous theaters and organizations, including New York Stage & Film at Powerhouse Theater, CAT Youth Theater, SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Plattsburgh, and the New York State Theater Education Association. She holds a BM in Vocal Performance from The Crane School of Music, has undergone advanced teacher training in voice and speech with Beth McGuire and Jane Guyer Fujita, and is pursuing an MA in Applied Theatre from the City University of New York. She is currently on faculty at the Brearley School in NYC.

Tricia is a dancer and an early childhood educator. She received her undergraduate degree in communication disorders and sciences from SUNY Geneseo. She worked as an early intervention therapist as well as in public schools as a speech therapist while living in NYC. Tricia then left that profession to pursue her dance career, performing in the musical theatre industry in regional theatre productions such as Holiday Inn at the Paper Mill Playhouse and Crazy for You at the Signature Theatre, in the national touring production of 42nd Street, and in television on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The pandemic brought a change in perspective with the birth of her daughter and a change in location. She is now merging her two passions, early childhood development and dance, to bring the community of toddlers and their grownups together with movement and music classes.

Beckie is a graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia with a degree in music education, specializing in voice and piano. Beckie music directs area theatrical productions and accompanies numerous choral groups and orchestras throughout Connecticut and neighboring states. She loves working with students of all ages and abilities and helping them find their voice!

Kent is currently the Director of Theatre Arts at The Frederick Gunn School in Washington, CT. He teaches Acting, Advanced Acting, Combat for Stage and Screen, Improv, and Public Speaking. Before the Frederick Gunn School, he was the Director of Theatre Arts and Chair of the Arts at the Trinity-Pawling School in NY. At the Sharon Playhouse, Kent recently directed Shrek, Jr. and a 10-minute play in Writers Playground. As a Theatre-Educator he has taught at The Shakespeare Theatre (DC), Penobscot Theatre (ME), and Western Stage (CA). As a professor of acting, directing, voice, and Shakespeare, he has taught at Grand Canyon University, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Nassau Community College, and Mesa Community College. Previous artistic leadership positions include Associate Artistic Director and Director of Education for Southwest Shakespeare Company in Arizona, from 2015-2017. He has acted and directed at regional theatres and appeared on TV and in Film. He is a Certified Stage Combatant and recently recertified in Hand-to-Hand, Small Sword, Rapier, and Dagger. He is a member of Actors' Equity Association, SAG/AFTRA, and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Kent has a BA in Theatre from Hofstra University and an MFA from The Shakespeare Theatre/Academy for Classical Acting in DC.

Kimiye Corwin is an actor, dancer, choreographer and teaching artist. She trained at The Juilliard School as a dancer and then at Brown/Trinity as an actor after her five year stint with the Jose Limon Dance Company. Kimiye has toured internationally, performed in NYC and on regional stages around the country as well as worked in film and tv. She is a resident in Roxbury, CT with her husband and two daughters, and teaches at the Stella Adler Studio/NYU in NYC. www.KimiyeCorwin.com

Mallory is a Brooklyn-based playwright whose work primarily spirals around female stories. Her plays are equal parts mythical, magical, and human. Select plays include BIG BLACK SUNHATS (The O’Neill National Playwrights Conference 2022; Clubbed Thumb Biennial Commission finalist 2020), LIGHTS OUT AND AWAY WE GO (Clubbed Thumb reading June 2022), THE PAGE TURNERS (Princess Grace Award semi-finalist 2022; The O’Neill National Playwrights Conference finalist 2021), PONY UP (Princess Grace Award Finalist, 2019; SPACE on Ryder Farm semi-finalist, 2020; The New School, 2019), and DAVE AND JULIA ARE STUCK IN A TREE (Playing on Air’s James Stevenson Prize 2020). Mallory is an alumna of Clubbed Thumb’s Early Career Writers’ Group (2021-2022), The COOP’s Clusterf**k vol. 2 (2021), Gingold Theatrical Group’s Speakers Corner (2018-2019), and Fresh Ground Pepper’s BRB Retreat (2019). She earned her B.A. from Harvard University and her M.F.A. in playwriting from The New School. www.malloryjaneweiss.com

Hailing from Atlanta, GA, Dana sang, danced, and acted her way to a BFA in Musical Theatre from CCM. From there, she spent 13 years hustling in New York City until the pandemic brought her to the Northwest Corner and Sharon Playhouse. Her New York credits include Lost and Found (Lucille Lortel), Straight Faced Lies (14th Street Y), Company (Gallery Players), Tovarich (Musicals Tonight), Illuminati (Planet Connections Festivity), Avenue Q (Manhattan College – Choreographer), One Life to Live (ABC - recurring). Regional credits include Meet Me in St. Louis (Paper Mill Playhouse & TUTS Houston), Hello Dolly! (MUNY), Joseph...Dreamcoat (MUNY), Oklahoma! (MUNY), The King and I(MUNY), Wizard of Oz (Northern Stages), Nunsense (Centre for the Arts), Cabaret (CCM - Choreographer). Her voice can be heard in commercials for Facebook, Blue Moon, JCPenney, Pier One, Brooklinen, Gevalia, Hasbro, Casper Mattress & more. She also produced the podcast Time Spent with Meredith Baker which can be found anywhere you get your podcasts. In addition to her performing, choreographing, and podcasting, Dana loves, LOVES working with children and incorporating learning through music and dance. www.DanaDomenick.com